We often think of dementia as something that affects the oldest among us, and that’s often true; at the Penn Memory Center, the average age of diagnosis is between 70 and 75. In most of those cases, caregiving falls to a spouse, partner, or adult child. But what happens when dementia is diagnosed before the age of 65? 

In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore early onset dementia and the young caregivers who step up when their lives are just beginning. The stories of teens and young adults reveal the unique challenges of caregiving and what they can teach us about care across all ages. 

We begin with a segment from a recent episode of Science Friday, where Executive Producer Dr. Jason Karlawish discussed the FDA’s recent approval of new diagnostic blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease. Then, Paige Censale shares the life-changing decision she faced: accept a full scholarship to college or stay home as the sole caregiver for her mother. We then learn about Lorenzo’s House, an organization dedicated to supporting young caregivers and families impacted by early onset dementia. Finally, we hear from Sierra, a 16-year-old from South Pasadena California who began caring for her father with early onset dementia when she was just 8 years old.   

Resources 

Special thanks to the Science Friday team, Jason Karlawish, MD, Paige Censale, Diana Cose M. ED, Patti LaFleur M. ED, CPD, Sierra Mercer, and Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW, for being a part of this episode.  

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp.